Police admit it was "inappropriate" for an officer to dress up as a window washer to catch people on their phones.
It comes after a video was published by TodayFM showing an undercover cop at a south Auckland intersection.
Window washers - we've all seen them at intersections before. But one Auckland window washer isn't like the others.
"It's the cop there! He's the cop that gave me the ticket!" said a man in a video shared online.
Filmed by a member of the public and published by TodayFM, it shows an undercover cop dressed in a hoodie with a window wiper in hand. But his motive isn't to clean.
"They're trying to give people in Manurewa tickets or fines for maybe phones, seat belts."
Police said they were looking for motorists who were running red lights or driving while using their phones.
"So, I'm going to get arrested?" the man asked.
"Yes, if you carry on getting in our way. You're filming an officer here."
"So he is an officer?" asked the man.
"Yes, he is," a police officer replied.
Manukau ward Councillor Alf Filipaina spent 38 years with police. He told Newshub that "it's wrong" and he's disappointed with the way the officers carried out the operation.
"The police shouldn't be doing that. From our perspective as local government, there's a by-law in place. That's illegal to do that."
He's concerned it sends the wrong message to the public.
"It's the perception of trust and people now saying, man, as a result, we don't trust you now. You know, that's what's so wrong and I know that wasn't the intention."
In a statement, police said using a plain-clothed officer to watch for these offences is a standard operating tactic, but that dressing as a window washer is not appropriate and they will be telling staff this should not happen again.
"On this occasion, Police were looking for motorists who run red lights or who were driving whilst using their mobile phones. Both of these offences are causes of death and serious injury on our roads," Counties Manukau road policing manager Inspector Tony Wakelin said.
"We would remind road users that using a mobile phone whilst driving, which includes when stopped at traffic lights, is both illegal and dangerous.
"The use of a plain-clothes officer to watch for these offences is a standard operating tactic to prevent death and serious injuries on our roads. Of which, there have been 20 deaths on our roads in Counties Manukau in 2022 to date."
Insp Wakelin said people who take the risk to run a red light are putting not only themselves but the lives of members of the community at risk.
"It's a risk that is not worth taking and Police regularly carry out operations targeting red light runners because we know the danger this type of behaviour poses," Insp Wakelin said.
"However, we acknowledge the officer dressing to appear as a window washer is not appropriate and we will be communicating with our staff this should not be happening in future.
"There are lessons here for our staff on the appropriate way to conduct these operations in future and I will be ensuring those conversations will be had."
Legal experts Newshub spoke to said this method is unlikely to be entrapment and could be considered similar to CCTV footage at traffic lights.
But Kiwis Newshub spoke to couldn't understand why police would do it.
"It's pretty extreme I think."
"Why do they have to do that?" said another.
"Pretty sneaky, but if you're not doing anything wrong, then it shouldn't matter, does it?"
A tactic Police admit could have been done differently, and an incident they're now hoping will wash away.
